Travel

The branches could hardly hold all the plump green and red-tinged Cortland apples at Silverman's Farm in Easton earlier this week.

Ample and mostly blemish-free on the outside, a quick crunchy bite — which is fine to do on the spot since the trees are not sprayed with pesticides — revealed a juicy, white interior and a taste that perfectly balanced sweet and tart.

If you want to pick apples this season, do it soon. Irv Silverman, who runs the farm his father started in the 1920s on Sport Hill Road, estimated there would only be a few more weeks of picking. A mild winter, followed by extreme heat in early spring, trailed by below-zero temperatures killed off Silverman's entire peach crop this season as well as its Jonagold apples. Elsewhere in Fairfield County, Blue Jay Orchards in Bethel lost all of its apples and will not have pick-your-own this year.

There are plenty of orchards and farms to explore throughout the state, but a trip to Silverman's, just off the Merritt Parkway, is a worthy destination, especially if you have kids. There's a fairly large petting farm with a wide array of animals, from chickens, pigs, goats and sheep to emus, Sicilian donkeys and zebu, the oldest cattle breed in the world.

For a quarter, visitors can purchase a handful of grain and feed the animals. There's also a small wooden maze to explore, slides to enjoy and trains to climb up on, including one with Thomas' familiar blue face.

After blowing off some steam, the younger ones might be ready for a ride up to the orchard for some picking. For large groups, the ride up the hill is on a tractor; smaller parties are ferried via golf carts. Macoun, Mutsu Crispin and Macintosh are being picked this weekend.

Or if you're in a rush, stop by the farm market to purchase picked apples as well as pies, cider, local honey and many other treats. Good luck overcoming the temptation to try some apple cider doughnuts (you won't regret it) or some Silverman's preserves, be it strawberry-cranberry or blackberry. Somehow not hungry? Pumpkins are plentiful and ready to be bought as well, or Silverman's Florist offers garden baskets, greenhouse plants and country-themed gifts.

On weekends, food vendors and bands often visit the farm, and special events include a pumpkin-carving contest. The farm was busy but not crowded on a recent weekday, but Saturdays and Sundays bring the masses, Silverman said. To make a day out of your visit, bring a picnic lunch or head to the Easton Village Store just up the road. It's attached to a Citgo station, but the ambiance inside is charming with wooden tables and benches and a large menu of sandwiches, grinders, paninis, burgers and hand-scooped ice cream.

If after picking, petting animals and eating you still have time to spare, take a scenic drive on the nearby Black Rock Turnpike (Route 58) and head to scenic Redding — or continue on Sport Hill Road (Route 59) to Lake Mohegan, a great place to walk dogs off leash or go for a swim. Fairfield University and downtown Fairfield are not too much further if shops are more your fancy.

If you go

Silverman's Farm is at 451 Sport Hill Road, Easton. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To pick apples, purchase a bag at the farm market ($16 for one that holds 10 to 12 pounds of fruit or $30 for one that holds 20 to 24 pounds) and fill it. Admission to the petting farm is $5 for adults and $3 for children. For information, visit www.silvermansfarm.com or call 203-261-3306.

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snugharbor wrote on Sep 16, 2012 6:55 PM:

" Silverman's Farm may have quality fruit BUT the experience is ruined by gestapo-like, heavy-handed rules. Want just a few apples to enjoy the experience with family out in the warm fall sunshine? Forget it at Silverman's! You are forced to buy a certain quantity here. Only 2 people per small overpriced bag are allowed in the orchard. Was told that today after wanting to get our favorite apple only to be told there were no guarantee that they were still available. So I wanted to opt for a small bag - no sense in spending $30 on fruit my family won't eat - but was told my family wasn't all allowed into the orchard (all 4 of us). And we couldn't walk - we could only go by tractor. AVOID THIS PLACE. Too bad Blue Jay is closed for the season. "

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